[access-uk] Re: Mobile Speak

From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx>

To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 14:19:46 -0000

Hi Chris
Thanks for your thoughts on Mobile Speak.

I don't have a decision to make on which to go for. I am a TALKS lover, and
think it's the best thing to happen this century! (smile). I just wanted to
try out Mobile Speak as a comparison, but so far, not so good, in respect of
its voices. I just can't get used to them at all, and I personally find
Mobile Speak a lot slower when arrowing through menus and things.

No, TALKS rules, but it's each to their own, and rather like the screen
reader scenario.

Hi Jackie, thanks for agreeing with me about Eloquence. It's very sad,
and, as a result, I'm sticking with Talks for the rest of my life
<smiles>. Seriously, when I tried MobileSpeak on my N70, I found it to be
sluggish compared to Talks, however I did like the fact that one can
customize it exactly to their needs, which you can't really do with Talks.
Also some of the voices, like Lequendo Simon, was very good and in fact
was louder compared to Eloquence, however since Talks doesn't support
Lequendo voices as far as I know I had to persuade myself that MobileSpeak
wasn't the programme for me, and to stick with Talks. In regards to the 10
minute demo limitation, this is true for both MobileSpeak and Talks,
however you can request a 30 day licence for both programmes, so in theory
you've got 60 days to try each screen reader. This should allow you way
enough time to try them out and make your decision. I hope this helps, and
good luck in your decision-making.

Jackie Cairns wrote:

Well thanks for your feedback people on the various voices, and Nuance's
apparent unwillingness to licence Eloquence to Code Factory. How sad!
like Chris, I'm just used to it.

But of those who use Mobile Speak as well as TALKS, what is your overall
opinion of it? Do you find Mobile Speak slower than TALKS, for example?
So far, I certainly do when I am cursoring up and down menus and going
into various applications on the phone. And of course I'm frustrated by
the fact it runs out after 10 minutes because I've just got a demo.

Any feedback appreciated as I am genuinely interested in a comparison
between the two really, and how people find them.

I've downloaded a demo version of Mobile Speak, and am beginning to
have a mess around with it, just to see how it compares to my beloved
TALKS.

But, so far, I hate the voices that come with it. I mean, you wouldn't
want to lust after any of them would you? (smile.) Anyway, is there an
Eloquence voice that can be run on Mobile Speak like there is with TALKS?
Please tell me there is!! (grin.) I'm not saying you would want to lust
after Eloquence either but ... it's better than these other lads and
lassies.

I am running this software on a phone that doesn't have TALKS
installed, just to be on the safe side, so any help would be sincerely
appreciated.